A few years ago, I listened to a talk given by Mark Mittelberg, who was on the staff with Willow Creek at the time.
It was titled “Sharpening Your Evangelistic Edge.”
Below are 8 barriers to effective communication that Mr. Mittleberg shared. If you have others to add, I’d love to hear them.
Barriers to Effective Evangelism:
- Lack of freshness in our relationship with God.
- Lack of confidence in the Scripture
- Lack of exposure to the Scripture
- Lack of clarity about the gospel itself.
- Lack of courage to present Jesus as the only way of Salvation.
- Lack of confidence in the power of the gospel.
- Lack of preparation.
- Lack of guts (courage).
The simple solution to most all of this is to spend time nurturing your own relationship with the Lord.
You’ll want to share about what God is teaching you from the Scripture, you’ll be propelled by grace, and you’ll have the confidence in the power of the gospel.
We need to study to know the truth, know what we believe, and know how to share it. We should always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that lies within us.
Let me ask you this?
Are you prepared to share your faith today?
Is your relationship with God vital enough that you cannot help but share?
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I would add “lack of love” to the list. How often do we say all the “right” things, but it is not with patience or kindness?
Thanks for dropping by! I would agree with that. I’ll have to add that to the list.
Even add to it: lack of love for the “lost” / “seeker” / “pre-Christian”, or insert your favorite term here for someone apart from Christ.
Chris
I’d agree with tia lynn, too, and add “lack of love.” I’d also include “lack of urgency,” which drives the whole thing. … So now I’ve got ten in my list — thanks!
- Mark Mittelberg
Mark:
I’m honored!
I enjoyed that talk (given in ’99) at Willow Creek’s Evangelism conference.
Since I recently moved, I was going thru my file cabinet looking to toss out what I no longer needed. I found my notes from your talk — which I still keep
Chris
That’s cool!
By the way, don’t know if you attend, but the annual National Outreach Convention in San Diego (coming up in a couple weeks) is a great place to stay fresh with evangelistic ideas and inspiration. Maybe see you or other bloggers there! (Info at outreach.com).
Mark
great stuff for the labourers to be aware of.
God Bless
@Ben:
You’ve inspired me to put this in my next newsletter and bring it back up to the front out of the archives. Thanks!
Chris.
The Bible says the latter rain is greater than the former rain …Imagine a great harvest of souls that is already in place for us to claim as we go through the 9th month of year 2009 which speaks of birthing new things.
God Bless your ministry .
Ben